‘We Missed Our Marshal Dearly,’ But Did We?

With North Korean leader Kim Jong Euns reappearance after a 40-day absence from public sight, the countrys state-run media have been publishing related articles, and in the
limelight was a piece from the Party
s newspaper,
Rodong Sinmun, titled
We missed our revered Marshal,
who sacrifices himself for the country and people.

The paper, in its attempt to rally up
loyalty from the public, published an article saying,
Thousands
and tens of thousands waited desperately for this day. A second was like a day,
and a day like a month. Without seeing our respected Marshal, we were unable to
sleep, while a story about his revolutionary activities published here [by this
paper] brings all soldiers and people a burst of new energy that instills us
with confidence in our final victory.

However, North Koreans who read this story
said it is completely untrue. Unlike North Korea
s
mouthpiece reports, people have remained largely indifferent to the leader
s activities, due to the busy autumn harvest and preparation for
winter, a source there told the Daily NK.

Were not
interested at all in his absence from television or papers,
the source from Yangkang Province said in a phone conversation on
Thursday.
If people dont see
him on television for some time, the most they say is that he
s [Kim Jong Eun] probably sick.

This time around, with the more than
one-month absence, there were rumors among Party cadres saying a simple leg
injury doesn
t prevent one from going about business
for weeks, which is why they speculated it must be some serious condition,
the source said. Now, with his return, they are saying its worrisome that someone that young has
to walk around with a cane already.

The source added that among friends, people
have been saying,
its finally
a world without a shipowner
and that they hope he
never appears again.

A world without a shipowner, refers to the title track of a well-known movie in the North called
A Story about a 15-Year-Old Boy. The expression is commonly used among people to describe their
yearnings for a life free from restraints, just as the protagonist from the
film desired to get away from an evil shipowner.

Back in 2008, when there were rumors about
the former leader Kim Jong Il being bed-ridden, the most people said was
maybe he has a blood clot in his brain,
according to the source.
When he showed up with a
limp, receiving help from an aide, people said he had become disabled and some
even imitated his walk,
she said.

Most are busy with their businesses and
gearing up for the winter, so no one has the time to worry about anyone else,
the source explained. Its only among Party cadres that there were rumors about Kim Jong Euns health.

Some residents have offered up indirect
criticism on the situation however, stating,
At times when there are
not enough supplies going around, the only people with fat on them are those
outside of the system,
referring to the North Korean
leader
s rapid weight gain.